Ten

                                    

                                          



They come home the day after. Lisa arrives at the hospital with the baby carrier and a second baby bag, a nervous smile on her face when she finds Jennie sat up on the bed, changing Lila into her going-home outfit, still dressed in her pajamas.
"Hi," she says brightly and they do the same thing they did yesterday and awkwardly look at each other, unsure how they're supposed to greet each other. That's until Lisa shakes out of her stupor and does the same thing she did yesterday and leans forward to kiss her on the cheek. Jennie smiles happily and finishes dressing Lila before holding her out for Lisa to hold.
Lisa takes her happily and then offers Jennie a hand as she climbs from the bed. She hands Jennie the bag of clothes she asked for and then settles down in the chair to say hello to Lila.
She props her legs up and then rests Lila on them, watches her bottom lip pout out until Lisa leans forward and kisses it. It's still pouting when she pulls back and Lisa giggles and tickles her finger against it until Lila gives a pleased baby sigh and settles against her.
"I only just got her to settle down," Jennie says and Lisa looks up, not realizing that she's been watching them from the bathroom, the door still open. She smiles nervously and looks back at Lila to stop herself from staring at Jennie in her nursing bra and baggy sweats. "I'm pretty sure she knows that she's getting out of this place."
Lisa laughs. "Yup," she whispers and giggles when Lila begins to hiccup. She grabs the nearby burp cloth and rests it over her knees as she maneuvers Lila to sit on her knee, her head supported in her hand as she begins to rub her back. "Everybody's been texting me all morning wondering when you're coming home."
Jennie laughs. "Is Auntie Rosie getting impatient?"
"And Irene," Lisa tells Lila in her baby voice. "And aunties Yeri, Chahee, Jisoo and Nayeon..."
Jennie snorts at that. "Oh, God. It's going to be ridiculous."
"I'm pretty sure Chaeng's got balloons, a cake, streamers, the whole nine yards," Lisa informs her with a laugh.
Jennie pouts and groans a little as she climbs back onto the edge of the bed. "Maybe we should just stay here," she pouts and Lisa smiles. "I like it like this."
Lisa feels butterflies at her words but shakes her head. "You can't keep something this beautiful from the world," she says, matter-of-fact.
Jennie looks at her and her eyes soften before she takes in a sharp breath, staring at her.
"No," she agrees. "You're right. You can't."
//
Chaeng let's herself in when they get there. She gives a determinedly quiet shuffle of happiness and watches, rapt with excitement, as Jennie carries Lila to the living room in her carrier.
She settles her on the floor by the couch and Lisa catches her eye as Chaeng, Chahee and Jisoo all swarm on her like bees on honey.
"You're gonna scare her," Jennie comments with fond amusement.
"She's adorable."
"Cutest baby I've ever seen."
"Destined to be such a heartbreaker."
Lisa laughs and then reaches to help Jennie take her jacket off, throwing it over the arm of the couch before reaching down to get Jennie's shoes.
"I can-" Jennie starts but Lisa silences her, tugging off her socks too. "Do you want your nursing pillow? She's due a feed soon."
Jennie nods and takes the nursing pillow Lisa had brought down from the nursery that morning when it's handed to her. She rests it across her lap and then doesn't argue when Lisa grabs the carrier from the floor and lifts it onto the couch. The three of them turn to watch as Lisa takes Lila's blanket from around her and then removes her coat and hat. The three of them gasp when they see her thick wavy hair and Lisa smiles as she passes Lila to Jennie.
Both Jisoo and Chahee look away when Jennie gets her boob out but Chaeng just continues to stare at Lila like she's the only thing in the room.
"Auntie Jisoo and I are gonna fight for so many cuddles," she sighs as Jennie brings Lila to her breast.
Lisa peers over and watches as Lila fusses a moment before latching on. She drags the changing bag closer and reaches into the front pocket, marking off on the chart the nurses had given them to keep track of Lila's feeds. Jisoo narrows her eyes at her but she ignores her and steps over to Jennie.
"Do you need anything?" she asks softly.
Jennie looks up at her and smiles as she shakes her head. "I'm good," she whispers and Lisa doesn't think before she leans down and kisses her on the forehead.
She leaves the room before anyone can say anything but they're still staring ten minutes when she comes back, curiosity on their faces.
//
Lisa can tell that Jennie's exhausted but their friends just keep turning up on the doorstep. Sooner rather than later and before anyone's left, Chaeng's had a cake delivered and what feels like half of the universe are crowding Jennie's living room as she sits half asleep in her chair.
Lisa feels herself getting pissed.
Shouldn't they all be at work right now? Shouldn't she? It takes her a second to realize that it's a Saturday and she's lost all concept of time.
Still, don't they realize that this is a bit much for Jennie and a barely three day-old baby? Don't they realize that Jennie needs more than thirty seconds to settle in before they can crowd her?
"Guys," she says as quietly as she can when she sees the noise wake Jennie up for the fourth time in five minutes. "Guys!" she says a little louder. They all look at her and she holds a finger to her mouth with a pointed raise of her brow. "I think it's time everybody heads home now," she says softly. "You can come back another time. Jennie needs her rest."
"But..." Yeri tries.
Lisa shakes her head and steps towards the door. "No buts," she says adamantly, opening the door. "You'll understand when you're up at all hours of the night with a human latched to your boobs. Jennie needs to rest while Lila's sleeping, not entertain all of you."
Most of them leave without argument but then their closest friends are still sitting there twenty minutes later, Jisoo, Chaeng, Chahee and Yeri still swarmed around Lila and Jennie. Lisa scoffs and takes Lila from Jennie who gives her a grateful smile instantly. Lisa clutches Lila to her, loving the way she curls into her neck, before looking at the others.
"Guys," she says exasperatedly. They all groan and stand up.
Yeri steps over to Lisa and strokes at the back of Lila's hand that rests against Lisa's collarbone.
"Sorry, Lila," she coos sadly. "but auntie Lisa doesn't want us to play anymore."
Lisa stiffens at the name, bristles at the unwanted sound of it. She feels sick instantly and her eyes go wide as they avoid looking at everyone until she hears the door close behind the last person. Jennie must have noticed her face because she sighs and stands, reaching for Lisa.
Lisa doesn't say anything, she just hands Jennie her baby girl so that she takes her.
"I'm going to go to the store," Lisa says as her eyes sting with tears. She forces a smile. "Do you need anything? Should I get us some dinner?"
Jennie's eyes narrow and she shrugs her shoulders until Lisa gives her another smile and just leaves without her answer.